Andrew Chalmers: I always did what I thought was right for Bradford Bulls

It’s hard to imagine that October 11 2019 represented 1000 days since the commencement of the Bulls resurrection for me and our hardworking committed management team.

I think back to January 15 2017 when Graham Lowe and I touched down at Manchester airport.We had only one goal in mind, to resurrect an iconic club that had touched the hearts of so many fans for generations.

We had 10 days to put together a team before the first 2017 Bulls game at the John Smith's Stadium - a task I described at the time as 'Mission Impossible', but do-able.

Like riding a bicycle backwards down a hill while changing both tyres. We did it and watched a predominantly inexperienced team battle it out against the Huddersfield Giants.

Since then the challenges and hurdles the club has faced and overcome have been nothing short of heroic and I take my hat off to the players, coaching staff and most importantly the legions of Bulls fans and supporters.

I think back to the disastrous performances of the team in 2017. I think of the utter dismay of being relegated to League One. Dark days indeed, but at all times with the unwavering support of the Bulls faithful.

But along with those hurdles came the highs, the nail-biting games in 2018, earning a hard fought promotion to the Championship, as the club slowly but surely began the journey to redemption.

And of course the great performances in 2019, as we commenced with the success for the club winning the Yorkshire Cup.

2019 had many tough close games. How could we ever forget the 40 degree heat for the Toulouse game, or the Jordan Lilley last gasp field goal win against Featherstone in the Challenge Cup, or the titanic arm wrestle against a full strength Leeds Rhinos in front of 10,000 cheering fans. Or the “nearly” upset of the year against Super League bound Toronto, just falling in the last minutes at Odsal Stadium.

I don’t have one favourite highlight, but certainly hearing the laughter and smiles of adoring fans watching their Bulls team give everything is a memory I will never forget.

Read more: Timeline of Andrew Chalmers spell as Bulls owner

My time at the Bradford Bulls has come at some personal and financial sacrifice on my behalf, being away from my family and businesses in New Zealand for over 1000 days and enduring the many long haul 25-hour flights.

I have literally flown over one million kilometres in three years, I’ve been past the moon and back! Gifting over 10,000 hours of my time to the club and my own money.

I have always done what I believed was in the best interests of the club, and made the best possible decisions I could for the club and its ongoing sustainability.

Some of these decisions have been tough ones, but that comes with the territory. The move from Odsal is well documented, but the club can look forward to a sustainable financial position and lower cost base going forward.

The club has an excellent core player group, and as John Kear will attest, whilst the revolving door is always spinning at a rugby league club, new players are always putting their hand up for an opportunity to play for a large iconic club like the Bulls.

Fortunately, the high performance academy is continuing to provide great opportunities to junior players, and I think the vast Bulls production line, will ultimately be what gives the club the momentum to enter Super League in the future.

This couldn’t happen without the support of the fans and key groups who provide support along with the club.

With respect to my decision to move on, I actually advised the RFL board and chief executive Ralph Rimmer that I intended to step down and bring new partners into the club, a process I commenced in May 2019.

It’s fair to say, you could hear the applause, celebration and the champagne corks popping from Red Hall. The decision to implement the ownership transition gathered more impetus once it became clear that the club’s path forward was best served without me at the helm.

Let’s face it, I’ve annoyed a few people along the way. Changing attitudes is rarely done hiding in the corridor, or whispering in the shadows. Plenty of people thought I was too vocal. Leadership to me means fighting from the front for what is right, for all our interests. And I did that.

Likewise, for me having once been described by the RFL, as the least worst option as far as owners was concerned, embarking on a process to find the right ownership group to take on the Bulls would similarly be a complex task.

I had three separate (serious) groups looking to take the Bradford Bulls forward. For the avoidance of doubt, the new ownership group incorporating Nigel Wood and Mark Sawyer's interests with new chairman Eric Perez - all are smart, experienced rugby people, and in Nigel Wood’s case a true Bradfordian.

They have all run successful rugby clubs. Importantly they have demonstrated to me and the RFL that they have the financial resources necessary to meet the working capital requirements and levels of investment projected for the success of the ongoing business.

I’ve seen criticism from some about the lack of information in the last six weeks, while a deal was being finalised. I apologise to those who felt aggrieved.

The amount of “fake news” was nearing Donald Trump levels and hard to sit back and not respond. Why some journalists recite twitter and RL Forum posts as if fact is a sad reflection of their incompetence and lazy journalism.

The wild sensationalism must surely be some last-ditch attempt by these wannabes to only improve their own ratings and profile.

The facts are that when you’re selling a business as a going concern these things take time. Importantly in a sale process, all parties are subject to both confidentiality requirements and also restrictions on making disclosures.

I had certainly hoped a sale could have been finalised sooner, but the reality is, we aren’t trading a camel, it’s the sale of a fully operational business, with employees, contracts, and pension obligations which needed tidying up.

Of course it also has creditors, debtors, contract assets, intellectual and brand property assets, all of which needs thorough review by the prospective purchasers and their advisors.

What I wasn’t prepared to do, was allow an administration or CVA on my watch, or asset stripping to occur, which is why the choice of credible rugby league business people to take the business forward needed careful consideration.

It’s also the reason why I have waived monies owed to me, and provided sponsorship to the club going forward, and I will assist with other sponsors where I can.

I will look forward to getting to games on my trips to the northern hemisphere next season to cheer John Kear and the team on, and catch up with the many friends and supporters who kindly made me welcome over the last three years.

I believe in this club, I believe it can return to Super League. I have long since known that the fans are the real owners of the Bulls. At the end of the day the Bradford Bulls exists and will survive because the fans want it to.

So we’ve seen SLEXIT (Super League breaking away), BEXIT (Bradord Bulls Odsal Exit), now CHEXIT (Chalmers Exit), and for the greater good of the United Kingdom we now await BREXIT.

Footnote to Boris Johnson: I have a little more time now, and am looking for my next impossible mission challenge. #COYB.

Finally, as I sign off I want to mention the passing of ex St Helens coach Mike McClennan. Mike will be fondly remembered by many in rugby league circles having coached in the UK and New Zealand.

My older brother Wayne was pretty much raised by Mike and his wife Maureen. My heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with Maureen, Bluey and their families and friends at this sad time.